Here are some short but interesting film news that appeared in the trades and on the Web today:

• Billy Bob Thornton is in talks to star in "Pound for Pound," a boxing flick based on F.X. Toole's novel. Writing and directing the project is Ron Shelton. The film focuses on two men whose lives intersect. Thornton would be playing a retired, widowed boxer who slips into depression after his grandson is killed in an accident. The other one is a young Latino fighter struggling with life as well.

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The Wayans brothers must be desperate. Maybe they just need some cash. Or maybe they just have too much time on their hands. Heck, maybe they just want to make me suffer. Whatever the reason, the guys are currently gearing up to develop a sequel to "White Chicks" for Sony.

That is no joke. The Hollywood Reporter says Keenen Ivory Wayans is set to direct "White Chicks 2," with Marlon and Shawn Wayans back for the lead roles. In case you missed "Chicks," the film followed two FBI agents dressing up as white girls.

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Here are some brief film news you shouldn't miss on July 20, 2009:

• The great Morgan Freeman is in negotiations to join Bruce Willis in "Red," a thriller based on the WildStorm/DC Comic for Summit Entertainment. Erich Hoeber and Jon Hoeber are in charge of the script, which follows a retired black-ops CIA agent whose peaceful life takes a turn when an assassin shows up at his door to kill him. (Variety)

• Paco Ahlgren's sci-fi novel "Discipline" will be heading to the big screen, with David Permut and Steve Lee Jones producing the project. The story, according to Variety, follows "a man's psychological battle with an enemy he cannot see." Permut's producing credits include "Youth in Revolt." Jones is wrapping the documentary "Kevorkian."

• All things Michael Jackson are certainly in high demand these days, and the Hollywood Reporter says Sony is pursuing the distribution rights to a flick based on the late artist's recent rehearsal footage by bidding $50 million. Nothing's confirmed at this stage, but studios including Paramount, Universal, 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. recently caught a glimpse at some of the footage.

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Here's your daily dose of film news for May 29, 2009:

• Chevy Chase has joined the cast of Steve Pink's upcoming comedy "Hot Tub Time Machine," about a group of adults who visit a hot tub they once used and realize it can transport them back in time, to their younger selves. Chase is set to play a repairman, says the Hollywood Reporter. John Cusack, Rob Corddry and Craig Robinson co-star.

• Paramount and Sony just announced Steven Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn" will open in theaters Dec. 23, 2011. The film will also be released in 3D. Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Gad Elmaleh, Toby Jones and Mackenzie Crook star in the motion capture film based on the books by Herge. (Variety)

• Michelle Morgan is set to write 20th Century Fox's remake of the 1985 comedy "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," which starred Helen Hunt and Sarah Jessica Parker. The original flick was directed by Alan Metter and follows two girls going nuts over a dance who titled "Dance TV." (Variety)

• Paul Verhoeven ("Black Book") is gearing up to direct "The Surrogate," a thriller based on the book by Kathryn Mackel. The story follows a couple who discovers the surrogate they hired to carry their baby is completely nuts. Roderick Taylor and Bruce Taylor wrote a first draft. This film is not to be confused with the Bruce Willis vehicle "Surrogates." (THR)

Here's your daily dose of film news for April 8, 2009:

• Larry Charles, who directed the hilarious "Borat" and "Religulous," is in talks to helm "Winter's Discontent," according to Variety. The film follows a widower who moves into a retirement home to - guess what - get laid. Charles most recently directed Sacha Baron Cohen's upcoming comedy "Brüno."

• And another video game will move to the big screen. This time, Sony will adapt "Shadow of the Colossus," with Justin Marks ("Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li") on-board to write the screenplay. The plot of the game follows a man who must fight his way through a wasteland battling 16 creatures. (Variety)

• Believe it or not, but Al Pacino is getting ready to play Napoleon in the big-screen adaptation of Staton Rabin's children's book "Betsy and the Emperor." John Curran, whose credits include the very interesting "We Don't Live Here Anymore" and decent enough "The Painted Veil," will likely direct the project. (The Hollywood Reporter)

• Alex O'Loughlin ("August Rush," "Moonlight," "The Shield") has joined Jennifer Lopez in Alan Poul's "Plan B," about a women who meets her dream boy on the same day she's going through artificial insemination. Kate Angelo wrote the script, according to Variety.